Stuck in the middle seat of an airplane? Use these smart tips to stay comfy, entertained, and sane — yes, even in 24B.
You glance at your boarding pass, and there it is: 24B. The middle seat of your airplane – the travel equivalent of drawing the short straw, and let’s be honest, it’s never anyone’s first choice.
The aisle allows you to stretch your legs and go to the bathroom without bothering anyone. The window seat offers a scenic view of clouds and the horizon. But the middle seat?
All you get is the “joyful” opportunity of being sandwiched between two strangers with nowhere to lean, especially on a full flight with no other available seat to move to.
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How to Survive the Middle Seat on an Airplane
Let’s try and make this dreaded spot a bit more tolerable with these simple tips.
🪑 Claim Your Armrests
The unspoken rule of the middle seat is that you’re entitled to both armrests. Think of it as your consolation prize, the tiniest thing that you get for your unlucky spot on the plane.
Once you get to your seat, make sure to claim the armrests before your seatmates do.
😴 Pack an Airplane Survival Kit
When you’re stuck in the middle, your personal items are more important than ever, so remember to pack a mini airplane survival kit, especially if you have a long flight ahead.
A neck pillow, noise-canceling headphones, and an eye mask are all non-negotiable if you want to relax and maybe even take a nap.
The neck pillow will keep your head from bobbing awkwardly onto your neighbor’s shoulder, the headphones will be the barrier against crying babies and overly chatty seatmates, and the eye mask is great for when the aisle passenger insists on reading with their overhead light on – the perfect trio.
👕 Dress Comfortably
When you’re being crammed between your seatmates with little to no space for yourself, the last thing you want to do is wiggle around trying to take off a layer because you feel too hot. You need to dress for comfort, in soft and breathable layers that you can easily remove if the cabin gets warm.
Aran sweaters are the best option: they’re made entirely of merino wool, so they not only keep you warm when the plane feels like a deep freeze, but thanks to their natural temperature-regulating properties, they can also chill you out.
You can get a classic crewneck Aran sweater or, if you’re looking for something even more practical, a knit cardigan that you can easily remove if the cabin gets warm.
🎧 Load Up On Entertainment
One of the biggest problems of the middle seat is boredom: you don’t have the window’s natural distraction or the aisle’s freedom to move, so you need to find another way to stay entertained for the whole duration of the flight.
Before heading to the airport, remember to download podcasts, movies, TV shows, and a few good books to your e-book.
Sure, there are many streaming options on flights, but they aren’t always reliable, and you wouldn’t want to end up with a frozen screen and nothing to do for the next seven hours.
👜 Optimize Your (Little) Space
The middle seat is already a tight spot, so the second you settle down, you need to make the most of the space you have.
If you have a carry-on, store it in the overhead bin to give yourself some legroom, but keep the most-needed essentials like your headphones, book, and snacks in a small bag under the seat in front of you.
This way, you’re not constantly reaching for the overhead compartment and bothering anyone.
🧘 Take Advantage of It
Yes, being in the middle seat can feel like the universe is out to get you, but if you approach it with the right mindset, it can be a good opportunity to catch up on some things. Without a window to distract you or an aisle to tempt you to get up constantly, you can settle into your own little world.
For instance, you can finally finish that book you’ve been meaning to read, watch a documentary, draw a sketch, write in your journal, or just take a long break from any screens, if you’ve been feeling too dopamine-addicted because of social media lately.
Sometimes being stuck forces you to slow down in the best way!
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